Upcoming California Halibut Scaled Management Stakeholder Webinar Series Announced

California halibut. CDFW/MARE photo

Recreational fishermen targeting California halibut in San Francisco Bay. CDFW photo by K. Lesyna

California halibut scale as seen under a microscope. CDFW photo

Commercial trawl fisherman offloading California halibut. CDFW photo

In 2019, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) completed a prioritization process for all of California’s fisheries in accordance with the 2018 Master Plan for Fisheries: A Guide for Implementation of the Marine Life Management Act. California halibut was identified as a high-priority fishery for management attention.

Additional Relief for the California Fishing Industry: Consolidated Appropriations Act (CARES II) Update

Commercial purse seiner at the dock.
CDFW photo by T. Nguyen

On March 29, 2021, NOAA Fisheries announced the allocation of an additional $255 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is working on a revised spend plan for California funds that will be submitted to NOAA Fisheries for approval. Fishery participants eligible to receive funding include commercial fishing businesses, charter/for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, and processors and dealers participating in marine and anadromous fisheries.

Watch Out for Coho Salmon in California’s Ocean Fisheries

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reminds ocean sport anglers to be vigilant about properly identifying their salmon before landing them.

The ocean salmon fishing season in the Monterey management area is well under way and areas to the north will open in late June. Coho (or silver) salmon, a protected species, are most likely to be encountered during late spring and early summer. Proper identification is critical for their survival.

Salmon Seasons Finalized for the California Coast

Sport fisherman with a nice Chinook salmon caught off Devil’s Slide
photo courtesy of D. Laughlin

Ocean salmon anglers across the California coast will be spending less time on the water this year chasing after king salmon, also known as Chinook.

At its virtual meeting last week, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) finalized and adopted the 2021 ocean salmon seasons. Sport fisheries on much of the coast have yet to open, except for the Monterey area which opened on the traditional first Saturday in April.

CDFW Seeks Applicants for 2021 Trap Gear Retrieval Program

A stack of retrieved trap gear in San Francisco. CDFW photo by M. Ivens-Duran

Stacks of retrieved trap gear in San Francisco. CDFW photo by M. Ivens-Duran

Heavily fouled crab trap lines in a retrieved trap. CDFW photo by M. Ivens-Duran

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking applicants for the 2021 Lost or Abandoned Commercial Dungeness Crab Trap Gear Retrieval Program. Removal of lost or abandoned trap gear reduces marine life entanglement risk during the summer months when large numbers of whales are present off California.